Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving just two days away I have been reflecting on the past year and just how very much I have to be thankful for.

I have never ending gratitude for my relationship with the Lord.  My heart breaks when I think of all the people who weren't introduced to Christ as a child, or who live somewhere that they are persecuted for their faith.  Thank you God for being in my heart.  I have never had to truly struggle to get to know my Lord and Savior.

I am immensely grateful for my parents and my siblings.  As I have been reflecting on the past year, when it comes to my family I began to delve a little deeper and a little further back.  Sometimes it all feels like a whirlwind, and this time of year really puts how far we have come into perspective.  It was just three years ago that my mom and sisters first spent Thanksgiving in Grand Rapids with me.  My parents were fresh into a divorce, and no one really knew the right way to spend the holiday.  That year was a rough one.  But the next year it got better.  I was happier, and so were they. And this year, we are eager to continue this tradition and I will be cooking dinner for my mom, her amazing boyfriend, and both of my sisters with a smile on my face.  My family and I have had a rough go of it the past few years, and it caused me to question things at times, but love never left the equation.  Through thick and thin, months of fights and silent treatments, we always loved one another.  And that is why we came out so much stronger at the other end.  We make each other laugh, and that is the good stuff.

I don't even know how to put into words how thankful I am to have Mike in my life.  He is my favorite hug, my favorite song, my favorite laugh, and favorite smile.  He knows me inside and out and still loves me to pieces.  We have experienced a lot this year, and most of it was pretty great.  We will both finally call ourselves graduates this year as well as homeowners.  I could not ask for a better partner to spend my life journey with.  I am so thankful for Mike and the joy he brings to me.

I am thankful for life long friendships.  I have mentioned here before that I am not one to be constantly surrounded with handfuls of friends.  But that has never mattered for me.  Rather than blessing me with a large garden of carnations, God chose the most glorious roses for me to treasure for my entire life.  I have the very best friends in the world.  Some that I have had since grade school, some newer, and some I was blessed with at birth, all equally as precious and important to me.  Nothing can replace the feeling that friendship gives you.  And I am so, so thankful to have the best!

I am thankful to be moving into a house with the love of my life, this adventure is just beginning and it is going to be a blast!
I am thankful to have my nanny family in my life.
I am thankful that Mike and I have great jobs and that we are able to provide for one another and not have to worry about where to sleep at night or where to get our next meal.
I am thankful for my job at the shelter, the shifts get frustrating, but giving back to that population humbles me and blesses me all in one.

Day Off

I haven't posted in months.
I am home alone.
Sitting in my bathroom.
Wearing a face mask, a hair mask, white strips on, shower getting hot, listening to Spotify.
The perfect day off, to be alone with my thoughts.
Big changes are happening in my life.
Inside and outside.

Sunday Edition II

THINKING ABOUT:

Mike. It's funny because actually stopping to write that I am indeed sitting here thinking about Mike seems a bit absurd.  I still sit around and daydream about him, after all these years.  We met so young, I would never have guessed he would be the man I spend the rest of my life with.  We have shared some really dark times, but came out of it with nothing but love for one another.  Maybe I should do a post about how him and I met sometime. He just makes me blissfully happy.

LOOKING FORWARD TO:

I feel like I always have so much to look forward to, lucky me!  I'm looking forward to today being over so that I can get back into the groove of things at home.  I'm looking forward to the 4th of July!  I'm still looking forward to my mom visiting with the kids and our annual camping trip.

WATCHING:

I am so out of the loop from TV this week, but it was nice to take a break.  I cannot wait to watch the shows I'm recording tonight; Trueblood and Oprah's next chapter with the Kardashians.

WORKING ON:

My health.  I am a foodie through and through.  I like to try everything, and I love to cook!  But recently I have just been working on paying attention to what I am cooking with and what I am putting into my body and encouraging Mike to put into his body.  One of my dearest friends Sami told me about a site she has been using to track her food and exercise called myfitnesspal.com and it is fab!  Seriously, it has been extremely helpful.

WISHING:

I thought really hard about what to write for my wishing and I had a very hard time coming up with something.  I truly want for nothing, and I have never been more content in my life.  I suppose I wish I was able to travel a bit this summer and spend time with my girlfriends.  A few of my best friends have been out of state for most of the summer and I miss them terribly.

The Perfect Visit Home.

I decided, almost last minute, to go home and spend a few days with my family for a few days this past week.  I had a test Tuesday night and promptly drove home immediately after class.
I was so jazzed to be with my family.  I hadn't made a trip like this in such a long time.
No holiday plans. Alone, no Mike. Best friends were not in town.
Basically, I had no agenda.
Which is amazing, and it never happens!

Favorite Moments From My Time Home

• My Mema giving me the most thoughtful birthday presents-A train case that belonged to my great grandma and 2 beautiful aprons from an antique shop.
• Thinking I was going to be able to sleep in, but my mom waking me up bright and early everyday so as not to waste our time together.
• Being seriously the clumsiest person ever and falling into the tub, bringing the shower curtain down with me and getting it wrapped around me.
• My youngest sister begging to give me a pedicure, and it turning out gorgeous!
• My dad cooking entirely too much food every time I see him. Seriously! Friday night-4 feet of sausage (I am not kidding, it was 4 ft.) hamburgers, hotdogs, fried potatoes, broccoli & cauliflower salad, cottage cheese, coleslaw, grilled veggies. See, I told you I wasn't kidding.
• Hearing the funny things little kids say. "This commercial has been on so long." Referring to an infomercial. "Untie this balloon, I want to put the air back in my belly and float around." You get the picture.
• Birch Run Outlets.  Somehow I had taken them for granted, having grown up right next to them, and have not made a good trip there in years.  It was my time.
• Swimming pools.
• My mom seeing a "Kitty Purry" shirt in a store (it has a cat on the front wearing braces, glasses, etc.) and trying to buy it for me, telling my brother, and I quote, "Shouldn't Rand wear this? It's her..a nerd cat!"

My Father.

I saw my dad a few weeks ago.
He was just in town for a few hours to fix my sisters car. My brother came to help.
I worked in the afternoon, but I was determined to steal them away for a few hours because the two of them rarely make it out this way.
It was a Saturday, and every Saturday morning Mike and I grocery shop, so along they came.
My time with my dad started with me teasing him for going to the store in his 'jorts' and him giving me a hard time for getting Starbucks.
While I waited for my drink to be made I see my dad and brother shoot from the bathroom, my dad chasing my brother around the produce section.  He had water cupped in his hands, apparently seeking revenge on my brother for getting him wet in the bathroom.
He ate fruit as we walked around the store.
My dad let me buy my own groceries, but he treated me to some almond milk and a jar of Tajin because "I just had to try them."


These sorts of things are typical of time spent with my dad.
He can be incredibly serious, spiritual, and intimidating at times.
But more often than not he is the silliest man I have ever met.
I'm proud that I learned how to be silly from my dad.

I admit...

...I usually spell weird as wierd the first time because it doesn't follow the rule 'i before e except after c'


...I only wash my hair 3-4 times a week


...my most listened to Pandora station is Disney


...that I talk to my cat, Maggie, on the regular


...sometimes I don't put any pants on until late afternoon if I don't have anywhere to be


...my most played playlist is named 'Happy Happy Love Love'

Summer Beauty.

With a little bit of natural bronzing via the sun and a natural glow from the higher temps I am a firm believer that less is definitely more for the summer months.  Here are a few of the goodies that I have been reaching for that are doing the trick!

Stila Smudge Pot in Kitten

This is meant to be a gel eyeliner, but I use it as a cream shadow or even more often as a highlight.

bareMinerals Ready Blush in The Tease

This has been my go to blush for a month now!  The shade is matte and so unique, plus it lasts all day.

MAC Lipglass in Pink Lemonade

I heard so many good things about this gloss so I had to get my hands on it.  Now it lives in my purse permanently.  It looks gorgeous on its own, over a bright pink, and over nudes.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

I have really dark eyelids and this Paint Pot is perfect to cancel out the darkness.  I have been wearing this alone most days with a little mascara for a really natural, but pretty look.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

A deep conditioner than smells soooooo good!  My hair has never been softer or smelled better.

Clarisonic Mia 2

I am a firm believer in the magic that is Clarisonic.  They are pricey (I received mine as a birthday gift) but if you have problematic skin they are the answer!